Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-11
The State Home for Imbeciles.

The State Home for lmbeclleS.
For the information of those who are in
terested in this proposed institution, it i,
deemed proper TO state the present statu,
Of legislative action The bill carefully
drawn by the board of corrections and
charities, with the valuable suggestions o.
Or. WILDER, was presented in the house on
February > and was referred 20 the com
mittee on ways and means The commit
tee on ways and means reported adversely
We are not informed aS TO the grounds o
the action of the committee. When the
bill was placed in the hands of the Repre-
sentative who presented IL, IL was stated
that the board OF corrections and chart
ties would appear before the committee II
desired. The objections we have heard
are, establishing another state institution
which would gather for continued care a
large number of useless people, and the
common complaint Of heavy taxation.
The bill was also introduced in the SEN
ate on February Is and referred to the
committee on Appropriations and Fl
nances Members of the board appeared
before the committee on February y and
were courteously received and heard
Ii Is now for those who are interested 20
approach the legislature by petition and
through members, before final action I.
taken. The care of imbecies rs distin
guished from IDIOTS Is not understood nor
Is the argument that the state ought in
consistency with her principle Of caring
for her members unequal to their own
care and support, appreciated. The AR
Fument that leaves these unfortunates in
their homes at least impugns the wisdom
and Justice of our Institutions for the dea'
and dumb, the blind and the pauper in
sane 1t Will Toe "A bitter disappointment
TO worthy citizens, many or whom have
their hts as taxpayer, If the Legislature
OF ~ shall adjourn without action 10 es-
tablish in the moderate manner IL is asked
this home.
Gro. ID. GILLESPIE.
Charities.
Death of Ex-Congressman Breitung.
Ex-Congressman Breitung of Negaunee
died at his winter residence in Eastman,
Ga, on the 4th inst, after long illness OF
pneumonia.
Hon. Edward Breitung was born in 1881,
In Schalkau, Duchy of SAKE Meiningen,
and his father was Lutheran clergyman.
he was educated in German college of
mining, and at an early age came 70 Amer
lea. In the northern peninsula OF Michi-
gan he found full scope for his technical
education, and he became wealthy; not
however, until he had tried life as a clerk
aud business man at various places, In
Guiding Kalamazoo and Detroit. He
had share in operating the Pho
neer iron furnace at Negaunee and
was subsequently, superintendent and
general manager Of the Washington iron
company. During the year just after the
close of the civil war he made thorough
exploration OF the iron range in Marquette
and Menominee counties and located a
number Of mines which developed profit
ably. IL was he who opened the famous
hematite mines of Negaunee and during
recent years he became largely interested
in gold and silver mining in Colorad.
After 1872 he was much in politics. being
elected TO both branches Of the state legis-
lature. In $50 he was elected 70 the house
at washington. He was an active repuhli-
can, member OF the masonic fraternity
and knight templar. He was married in
1870 to Mary Pauline OF Negaunee and is
survived by her and one son. Mr.. Brei-
tung was frank. open hearted and impul-
sive, and Representative man of Michigan.